A statue from Assyria that may represent the god of wisdom known as Nabu (or Nebo) was one of two inscribed limestone statues found at the temple of Nabu in Kalhu, Assyria. There are no other known ancient statues of Nabu still in existence. The statue was carved around 800 BC, during the reign of Adad-Nirari III. Interestingly, this is not long after the time period when the Biblical prophet Jonah made his cautionary (and reluctant!) visit to Nineveh.
The statue’s inscription praises Nabu, and thanks the god for his deliverance. The inscription ends with a command that the reader should not trust in another god. Some scholars have suggested that this Nabu inscription is an oblique reference to Jonah’s prophetic warning and the repentance of the king of Nineveh, the Assyrians’ temporary turn from violence, and their deliverance from destruction. It is indeed possible that this message is an attempt to deflect credit from the God of Jonah to the Assyrian god Nabu. Still others have suggested that it was an attempt to meld the stories of Yahweh and Nabu (a practice called “syncretism”).
However, it is important to note that this statue also provides corroboration and support for the existence of another official idol from this same historical period. You will recall the story of King Nebuchadnezzar II, ruler of Babylon, who set up an enormous golden image for the people to worship.
Interesting Side Note
Nebuchadnezzar’s massive statue may have been a monument to the god Nabu — from whom Nebuchadnezzar took his name. Other scholars contend that the golden image represented Nebuchadnezzar himself, since statues of gods were almost always displayed solely in their own temples.
Summary
Assyria’s Nabu Statue demonstrates that the practice of erecting new statues of gods was customary for the kings and rulers of that period.
